A14461:539
The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise
The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take great pleasure in the reading thereof. Translated out of French into English, by John Brooke of AsheThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take greate pleasure in the reading thereoff. Translated out of French into English, by Iohn Brooke of Ashe
London: printed by Thomas East, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Hillarius. It might be that they did think, that there might retourr• unto them some little profit: But yet nevertheless their chief intent and purpose was to appease the souls of the dead and to reconcile them unto them by that means, to the end they should not hurt them, either in their bodies or goods: even as they have accustomed to celebrate scasts and to do sacrifices unto the souls of holy men, whom they did think to be in heaven with the gods, for to have aid and solace, as Aeneas did unto his Father 1Anchises. And all that error proceeded, from the false opinion that they had of the souls, and for want of knowing their nature and estate, therefore they judged after their own sense and understanding, and not after the word of God. As they do also of the bodies, thinking (at the least the most superstitious, as it hath been already touched) that the soul doth walk a certain time, if their bodies hath not bad y• honour of the burial, such as appertaineth & was 2meet for them: And that the bodies were in danger ⟨image 108⟩of Enchanters and sorcerers, which would abuse them through their Necromancy & conjuration. And the Hebrew 3Rabbins, and doctors of the Jews, and in no less dreaming. For they say, that the dead body is left in the power of the devil, who calleth him self Zazell, and do wrest and turn those places of the scripture, for to confirm their error, unto whom it is said unto the Serpent: Thou shalt eat of the earth all the days of thy life. And in another place. The earth shall be the Serpents meat. They would conclude by those words, that the body of man, and all that which is in the flesh, and the vices therein, is given for meat to the Serpent, whom they do call Azazel, lord of the flesh and the blood, and Prince of that world, saying that he is also called in Leviticus the Prince of the deserts. Sith then that our body is created and made of the slime 4and dust of the earth, and that the earth is given for meat unto the serpent, they conclude thereby, that our bodies are subject unto him, and in his power, until such time as they be sanctified, and that the earthly flesh be transformed and changed into a spiritual nature.